Reading council is set to welcome the news that the government has recognised Palestine as an independent state.
The Labour UK government recognised Palestinian statehood on September 21.
The State of Palestine is made up of the West Bank of the River Jordan and the Gaza Strip, territories that are physically separated by Israel.
Liz Terry (Labour, Coley), the leader of Reading Borough Council, will introduce a motion at a full meeting welcoming the decision by the government.
Her motion states: “We welcome the Labour government’s decision to recognise Palestine as an Independent State, delivering its manifesto commitment and taking a vital step to protect the viability of a two-state solution, which must be part of a wider plan for peace.
“Reading Council wishes to see an end to the intolerable suffering of the Palestinian people, unequivocally condemns the horrors of the October 7th attack and calls for all hostages to be released. We believe that Britain must play a proactive role in promoting a just and lasting peace between a safe and secure Israel and a viable Palestinian state.
“Reading Council believes the UK has a moral and legal responsibility to uphold international humanitarian law and act to prevent further civilian suffering in Gaza.”
The motion acknowledges the crimes committed by Hamas, the radical Islamic terror organisation that carried out the attack on October 7, 2023.
During the attack, 1,195 civilians and members of Israeli security forces were killed, 3,400 civilians and security personnel were wounded, and 251 people were captured.
Israeli security forces were able to kill 1,609 fighters and take 149 fighters prisoner.
Cllr Terry’s motion states that the council welcomes the Government’s policy of seeking an immediate ceasefire, the safe return of hostages held by the terrorist group Hamas, “as well as those held by the Israeli government and the urgent need for a two-state solution.”
She is also asking councillors to welcome the recent steps towards a peace plan and calls on all parties to bring an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and work to secure peace.
It also asks councillors to consent to cllr Terry writing a letter to David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, welcoming the recognition of the state of Palestine as part of progress towards a two-state solution.
The motion will be introduced at the full council meeting on Tuesday, October 14.
The second anniversary of the Hamas invasion of southern Israel was today (Tuesday, October 7).
The term ‘two-state solution’ emerged following the withdrawal of the British Empire from the Mandate of Palestine in 1948.
Although United Nations resolution 181 was meant to establish separate states for Jews and Arabs, this was not implemented.
The nation of Israel was declared in May 1948, which was followed by a successful war of independence and expansion into Palestinian territories following the Six-Day War against neighbouring Arab nations in 1967.
